Welwyn Pub's pear tree petition protest
A DECISION over the fate of a pear tree in Welwyn has been postponed. The dispute over the tree, in the garden of The White Horse pub in Mill Lane,was due to be discussed at a meeting of the parish council's
A DECISION over the fate of a pear tree in Welwyn has been postponed.
The dispute over the tree, in the garden of The White Horse pub in Mill Lane, was due to be discussed at a meeting of the parish council's leisure facilities and open spaces committee yesterday (Tuesday) evening.
However, the discussion had to be postponed after the clerk was absent due to illness and could not provide the necessary information.
More than 100 residents have signed a petition in support of Chris Van den Heever, landlord of The White Horse, who has been threatened with the courts by Welwyn Parish Council.
In a letter to Mr Van den Heever, the council says the pear tree has "damaged fencing", and added it would consider legal action unless the matter is "resolved".
Mr Van den Heever has now written back to the council to express his disappointment.
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"We do not feel this matter warrants such drastic measures," he wrote.
"We do not feel that it is reasonable for the parish council to ask us to remove our pear tree.
"It has always been our intention to try and preserve the tree and make good any damage to the fence."
He added: "We believe it is important to preserve this particular tree as we are given to understand that it may be the last survivor of the pear orchard from which Orchard Road takes its name."
